2012 Toronto BBWAA Award Winners
The Toronto chapter of the BBWAA held their annual vote and selected the following players as recipients of 2012 awards; 1B/DH EDWIN ENCARNACION earned the Neil MacCarl Award as Player of the Year and also received the Most Improved Player Award while RHP CASEY JANSSEN was selected as Pitcher of the Year, LHP AARON LOUP was named Rookie of the Year and the recipient of the John Cerutti Award is former Toronto Third Base Coach, BRIAN BUTTERFIELD.
ENCARNACION, 29, earned Player of the Year and Most Improved Player honours after setting career highs in most offensive categories, including home runs (42), RBI (110), walks (84) and stolen bases (13). Among the American League offensive leaders, Edwin ranked 1st in HR/AB (12.90), 3rd in OPS (.941), T-3rd in RBI (110), 4th in HR (42), 5th in SLG (.557), OBP (.384) and 7th in BB (84).
JANSSEN, 31, captured Pitcher of the Year honours after posting a career high in strikeouts (67) and had a career low opponents’ batting average of .195 which ranked 7th in the AL for pitchers with a minimum of 60.0 IP. After assuming the closers role on May 9, recorded 22 saves in 24 opportunities and over those 22 saves, did not allow a single run while allowing just two walks and 10 hits.
LOUP, 24, earned Rookie of the Year award after posting a 2.64 ERA in 33 appearances in his 1st season in the Majors. Over his 33 games, Aaron worked 30.2 innings while issuing just two walks and fanned 21 batters. Allowed runs in just one of his last 24 appearances of the season which spanned 18.1 innings of work.
BUTTERFIELD, 54, earns the distinguished John Cerutti Award, given to a person that exemplifies the goodwill, cooperation and character as displayed by the late John Cerutti. Butterfield received the honour after completing his 11th season with the Blue Jays after joining the Club in 2002. Served as Toronto’s Third Base and Infield Coach in every season except 2008-2009 when he was the Club’s Bench Coach.